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Date: 11/18/2022
LUDLOW – The School Committee approved Jean Fontaine as the new special education director.
The decision was made at a School Committee meeting on Nov. 8 at which they met with Fontaine regarding the upcoming vacancy.
Superintendent Frank Tiano said that when he was hired, he knew he would have to hold a search to replace Eva Tillotson, who is retiring as the special education director for Ludlow Public Schools at the end of this year.
“It is not an easy task in terms of a school district to replace the special education director. It is really a special position and watching Eva and her team do work is why we wanted to take our time to find the right candidate,” Tiano added.
Tiano added that it is up to the School Committee to approve his recommendation for the new special education director and that his candidate for the special education director is Fontaine.
“Fontaine is in her seventh year of serving as director of pupil services in Longmeadow Public Schools and has a long career in special education. She received plenty of great recommendations through the entire process from our current staff and her old superintendent,” Tiano added.
Tillotson added how excited she is for the Ludlow school district to be gaining Fontaine as a member.
“You are getting a great person here. I have known Jean for a few years now and has always been my go-to person when I have a question. She has a great work ethic, and you have a home run here,” Tillotson added.
School Committee Chair Chip Harrington mentioned how Longmeadow and Ludlow school districts can be similar, but also different, and was curious to see how Fontaine planned to handle that.
“I don’t know I can exactly pinpoint what the challenges will be. I think you discover that as you get going. I think what is exciting for me coming here is your structure of support is phenomenal. The amount of special education support is something I have not seen in a lot of districts,” Fontaine said.